Posts by Stephen Starr

PEORIA — An energy efficiency plan proposed by the dominant downstate power provider fails to meet key goals of state legislation crafted to conserve resources and create jobs, according to critics of the proposal. But Ameren Illinois claims it is on track to achieve necessary long-term energy savings while improving efficiency for low- and moderate-income…

Is one of the best new energy laws in the nation really about to unravel this quickly? Last December, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed the Future Energy Jobs Act. Hammered out over more than two years and supported by a wide variety of usually feuding interest groups, the law enhances conservation and renewable energy, preserves nuclear…

Members of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition say Ameren Illinois isn’t doing enough to reduce energy demand in its service territory. The coalition said Ameren’s recent energy efficiency plan filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission does not meet goals set out in the Future Energy Jobs Act, which went into effect in June. The law…

Illinois State Representative Elaine Nekritz, D-Buffalo Grove, said the Future Energy Jobs Act is supposed to bring more jobs to the state while also cutting down on energy costs. Negotiations in the law made Ameren’s efficiency goal lower than other energy providers. Ameren is supposed to reduce energy waste by 16 percent by 2030. “The…

Residents in central and southern Illinois will pay nearly 30 percent more than projected on utility bills if Ameren is allowed to lower its energy savings target, environmental and consumer advocates said Wednesday. The electric and gas utility provider recently filed an energy-efficiency plan with the Illinois Commerce Commission that fails to meet annual savings…

Environmental and consumer activists Wednesday accused Ameren Illinois of attempting to bypass energy efficiency targets set by the state’s new clean energy law. The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, with Illinois Rep. Elaine Nekritz and representatives from the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), held an Aug. 9 teleconference to criticize Ameren…

SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition and Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook) criticized Ameren Illinois Wednesday for setting new energy efficiency goals, which they say fall short of their targets. During a telephone press conference Wednesday morning, Nekritz joined with David Kolata, director of the Citizens Utility Board, Josh Mogerman of the Natural Resources…